Barber chair with frame structure



July 14, 1964 H. s. SHUBART ETAL 3,140,892

BARBER CHAIR WITH FRAME STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 11, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet l M 4; mg-h w A TTORNE YS July 14, 1964 H. s. SHUBART ETAL 3,140,892

BARBER CHAIR WITH FRAME STRUCTURE INVENTORS Sk/Idrf 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11, 1961 ATTORNEYS y 1964 H. s. SHUBART ETAL 3,

BARBER CHAIR WITH FRAME STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 11, 1961 1 mr ur hwiii IN VEN TORS b .5. Jazz 14. 0/00/15 BY W g z z United States Patent 3,140,892 BARBER CHAIR WITH FRAME STRUCTURE Harry S. Shubart, Evanston, and John A. Dlonhy, Oak

Park, 111., assignors to Emil .I. Paidar Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of lilinois Filed Sept. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 137,324 9 Claims. (Cl. 297-80) The present invention relates to improvements in mechanical chairs having power means for raising and lowering the chair, and particularly to an improved frame structure for a barber chair.

Barber chairs have been constructed with a central column which is raised and lowered mechanically and hydraulically and a heavy casting is usually mounted at the top of the column with the chair or parts connected to the casting. The casting has been shaped to be provided with brackets and has been drilled so that the reclining back and the movable foot support may be connected to the cast frame. These and other structures have been expensive to manufacture and heavy for shipping and handling.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved barber chair construction employing a frame arrangement which is particularly lightweight, has greater stability for the balancing of the chair on its base, and is particularly good on reclining of the chair.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved chair frame structure wherein all functioning pieces are held in a cantilever relationship from the center column.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a barber chair with a hollow frame base which is a fixed member of a parallelogram.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an elevatable barber chair having an open frame which permits matted hair to fall through.

A further object of the invention is to provide a chair frame for securing to an elevatable chair column of a barber chair, wherein the assembly has a lower center of gravity due to the provision of a lightweight cantilever frame and due to the construction of the seat on the frame, and wherein the over-all silhouette of the chair is lower.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved chair frame structure with simple pivotal supports for hanging pivotal elements on the frame.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a barber chair wherein a simplified, fabricated, lightweight support frame is mounted at the top of a center column and all of the parts are supported by the frame.

Other objects, advantages and features will become more apparent with the teaching of the principles of the present invention in connection with the disclosure of the preferred embodiments thereof in the specification, claims and drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a barber chair constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the chair of FIG- URE 1 with portions removed to show the inner construction;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the chair frame showing a portion of the upholstering members in place;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan View of the chair frame;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the center of the center column for elevating and lowering the chair and showing the connection of the chair frame on the column;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of another form of the chair frame;

3,140,892 Patented July 14, 1964 FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken substantially along line VII-VII of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view with parts broken away of a modified form of frame;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the footrest support structure; and

FIGURE 10 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line X-X of FIGURE 9.

As shown on the drawings:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a barber chair supported on a base 10 having a vertical portion 11 which encloses 01' shrouds a lift tube or vertical column 12.

As shown in FIGURE 2, at the top of the column is secured a chair frame 13 which is constructed from a plurality of hollow rectangular frame tubes, FIGURE 4. The tubes are suitably attached to each other by welding as will be described.

The moving elements of the chair are supported on the frame 13, and a back 15 is pivotally supported on the frame between backrest arms 16 and 17 which are pivotally mounted at their base at the rear of the frame 13. Armrests 18 and 19 are pivotally connected to the backrest arms 16 and 17, and to side footrest arms 20 and 21. The footrest arms are one piece and generaly J-shaped and are pivoted on the front of the frame 1.3.

At the base of the arms 20 and 21 is a platform 22 for an occupant to enter the chair, and a footrest 23 is pivoted between the lower ends of the arms.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the chair frame 13 has longitudinally extending side frame members .24 and 25 and additional longitudinally extending frame members 26 and 27. The side frame members 24 and 25 are secured to the ends of laterally extending cross frame members 28 and 31 at the front and back of the chair. Between these are cross frame members 29 and 30, and the longitudinal frame members 26 and 27 are mounted on top of the cross frame members. The frame members are suitably attached such as by weld beads at their edges. The cross frame members 29 and 30 are provided with suitable holes 29a and 30a for receiving bolts to bolt to the top of a column 12, as will be described in connection with FIGURE 5.

For supporting the backrest arms 16 and 17 on the chair frame 13, horizontal pins 32 and 33 are supported to extend laterally outwardly from the rear of the side frame members 24 and 25.

For pivotally supporting the footrest arms 20 and 21, pins 34 and 35 are secured and project outwardly at the front ends of the side frame members 24 and 25. The pins are attached directly to the side frame members in an inexpensive manner for ease of assembly and over-all economical construction. With the structure shown, it is unnecessary to provide separate brackets on castings, or to drill castings, and each of the parts can be directly supported from the frame which is supported in a cantilever manner from the central column 12.

As shown in FIGURE 7, which illustrates pin 35, each of the pins being of substantially identical construction, the pin 35 has a reduced side inner end which is threaded so as to receive a nut 36. The reduced inner end is received in a hole on the inner wall 25a of the side frame member. The pin has a central portion 37 of larger diameter which fits in an opening in the outer side wall 25b of the side frame member 25. The pin has an outer end 38 of smaller diameter than the midportion, which provides a journal for pivotally supporting either the backrest arms 16 and 17 or the footrest arms 20 and 21. The extreme outer end 39 of the pin is threaded for receiving a nut to hold the pivotal members on the pin.

Thus the rectangular hollow members of the frame provide a simplified means of attaching pivotal members and the need for brackets is eliminated. The movable parts form a parallelogram, of which the frame 13 is a fixed side, and the armrests 18 and 19, the backrest arms 16 and 17, and footrest arms 20 and 21 are movable sides of the parallelogram.

FIGURE 3 shows a portion of the upholstery structure which permits the upholstery to surround the chair frame 13 so that a portion is below the frame. The aids in reducing the center of gravity and also lowers the silhouette of the chair.

Secured to the side frame bars 24 and 25 are wooden upholstery frame members 40 and 41. These are suitably attached and are slid over the pivotal pins 32 and 34 on the side shown in FIGURE 3. Machine screws 41a extend through the side frame members 4-0 and 41 and nuts 41b are recessed into the outer surface for receiving the screws. Strips 42a are secured to the inner surfaces of the upholstery members to rest on top of the frame 13 and transfer the load of the seat cushion from the wood frame to the metal frame 13.

At the back and front of the frame 13 are wood upholstery frame members 42 and 43 which are secured at their ends to the upholstery side frame members 4% and 41 such as by being nailed at the ends. Wave springs such as 44 are then attached at their ends to the back and front upholstery frame members 42 and 43, and upbolstering is placed over the lower portion of the frame as shown in FIGURE 3. On top of this portion is placed a cushion member 14a which rests on the springs 44.

It will be understood that the frame may be used with other types of cushioning or that open porous cushioning may be employed, and the frame will not trap hair and foreign materials, but will let them pass through.

The chair frame 13 is supported at the top of the column 12 by bolts 45 extending through holes 29a and 30a, FIGURES 4 and 5, and through holes in a plate 47 suitably attached to the top of the column 12. An elevating piston rod 46 attached to a piston in a hydraulic cylinder, or attached to other lift means, is connected to the plate 47. Thus a rigid connection is achieved between the frame 13 and plate 47.

In FIGURE 6 a modified form of frame 48 is shown and in this structure the backrest is not attached to the footrest through the armrests. Instead, rigid side armrests 54 and 55 are secured to side frame bars 49 and 49a. Laterally extending cross frame bars 50 and 51 are connected at their ends to the bars 49 and 49a, and additional longitudinal frame bars 52 and 53 are attached at their ends to the bars 50 and 51. The bars 52 and 53, in the arrangement of FIGURE 6, are directly bolted to a lift plate, such as shown at 47 in FIGURE 5.

Backrest arms 56 and 57 are pivoted to pivot pins or other suitable pivotal connections, not shown, on the chair frame 48. Similarly, footrest arms 58 and 59 are pivoted at the front of the frame 48. The arms 56 and 57 are respectively connected to the footrest arms 53 and 59 by force transfer members 60 and 61 which consist of bars pivotally attached to their ends to the arms, and positioned beneath the chair frame 48.

The footrest arms 58 and 59 are given additional rigidity in the structure of FIGURE 6 by an apron which is located in the space 62 between the bars and which is recessed therebetween. The apron has a planar outer surface where the occupant of the chair can rest his legs, and is secured at its edges to the arms 58 and 59 to give them a rigid relationship, and is also secured to a tilt bar 62a, which is secured across between the arms 58 and 59 and is connected to a tilt control mechanism, not shown. The apron is not shown and is similar in construction to that shown at 83 in FIGURE 9.

In the arrangement of FIGURE 2, rods 63 and 64 extend angularly across between the footrest arms 20 and 21, and additional rods 65 and 66 also extend across between the arms, with the rods secured at their ends to the arms to give them a rigid structure. An apron 67 is also positioned over the arms as shown in FIGURE 1, being suitably attached thereto.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a modified form of frame 70 having main longitudinal rectangular hollow frame members 71 running from the front to the back of the cha1r. Cross frame members 72, 73 and 74 are suitably secured at their ends, such as by welding, to the inner sides of the main frame members 71. Cross frame members 72 and 73 are vertically drilled for bolting to the top of a chair in the same manner as with the arrangeemnt of FIGURES 1 through 5.

At the front of the chair are footrest supporting arms 77 which extend downwardly and are pivotally supported at their upper ends at the front of the frame members 71 by pivot bolts 75. At the rear of the frame 70 are pivoted backrest support arms 78, pivotally supported on pivot bolts 76 extending laterally through the frame members 71. The footrest arms 77 and the backrest arms 78 are interconnected by rods 79 at each side of the frame, and these rods are connected by pivot bolts to the arms at their back end, and are secured to a position adjusting bar 80 at their front ends, with the bar being secured at its outer ends to the footrest arms 77. A strengthen ing cross rod 81 connects between the rods 79 and is secured thereto such as by welding. As will be clear, the arms 77 support a platform and footrest, not shown, and the arms 78 support a backrest, not shown. The position of the footrest arms and backrest arms changes together, and is held by position locking mechanism, not shown.

At the sides of the frame members 71 are projecting brackets 82 in the form of hollow square tubular pieces welded to the sides of the frame members. These brack ets 82 are vertically drilled for mounting an armrest on them for the finished chair. Thus the frame, which is bolted to the top of the lift tube of the chair, serves as a cantilever support for all of the operating elements of the chair.

The center lift tube of the chair is protected, and the footrest arms are additionally rigidified, by an apron 83 which is positioned therebetween.

The apron 83 includes a shaped board 84 which is constructed to snugly fit between the arms 77, and the arms have brackets 88 through which bolts extend to be received by nuts 86, FIGURE 10, recessed in the apron. Additional bolts extend through the holes 87 in the adjustment bar 80 to turn into nuts in the apron. Thus the apron is held securely in place. The apron is shown with a lower trim plate 89 secured thereto and a covering 90 which may be of attractive decorative plastic ma terial such as vinyl.

In brief summary of the arrangement of FIGURES 1 through 5, the lightweight fabricated chair frame 13 is secured at the top of the central column 12 and supports the entire upper portion of the chair and the operating members are all suspended on the frame 13. The brackrest is pivotally supported on the frame between the arms 16 and 17, and the footrest is pivotally supported on the frame by the arms 20 and 21. The fabricated frame provides a lightweight strong structure which is easily manufactured avoiding the expense and weight of frame structures heretofore used.

Thus it will be seen that we have provided an improved chair structure which meets the objectives and advantages above set forth, and which provides advantages over structures heretofore available.

The lightness in weight of which the chair is capable reduces the power required for lifting the chair, thereby reducing the size of parts and the pressure required if a hydraulic lift is used.

The drawings and specification present a detailed disclosure of the preferred embodiments ofthe invention, and it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specfic forms disclosed, but covers all modifications, changes and alternative constructions and methods falling within the scope of the principles taught by the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an elevatable chair structure having a vertical center column adapted for vertical up and down movement to raise and lower a chair, a horizontal chair frame supported on said column and including a plurality of hollow tubular frame bars secured to each other to provide a rigid frame for supporting a seat, horizontal pivot pins secured at the rear of said frame and at the front of said frame, each of said pivot pins having a first threaded diameter extending through an opening at the inner side of said side bar, and having a second larger diameter extending through an opening in the outer side of said side bar, an internally threaded nut member for engagement with said first threaded diameter, whereby each of said pivot pins may be securely mounted to said side bar upon tightening of said nut on said first threaded diameter, backrest arms pivotally mounted on the pins at the back of the frame, and footrest arms pivotally mounted on the pins at the front of the frame.

2. in a mechanical chair assembly adapted for vertical movement and including a center column to raise and lower a chair, a horizontal chair frame supported on said column and including a plurality of hollow tubular frame bars secured to each other for providing a rigid frame for supporting a seat, said bars being rectangular in a cross section, horizontal pivot pins at the back and front of the chair on frame bars extending horizontally at the chair frame side, said pins having an inner end of a first diameter projecting into an opening at the inner side of the side bar, a mid-portion of a second larger diameter in an opening on the outer side of said bar, an outer end of a third diameter smaller than said second diameter, and backrest and footrest arms pivotally mounted at the back and front of the frame supported on the pins at the outer ends thereof.

3. A mechanical chair structure comprising, a vertical center column adapted for vertical movement to raise and lower a chair, a seat frame secured to the upper end of the column including a plurality of hollow tubular transverse frame bars and a plurality of hollow tubular side frame bars secured to each other for providing a rigid seat frame, a backrest frame, backrest arms secured to said backrest frame, said backrest arms pivotally connected to the rear of said seat frame, each of said back rest arms having a lower end extending below said seat frame, foot rest arms pivotally mounted to said seat frame and having an adjustment bar mounted therebetween slightly below said seat frame, force translating member including a pair of rods disposed beneath said frame, a first end of each of said rods pivotally secured to said lower ends of said backrest arms, a second end of each of said rods pivotally secured to said adjustment bar, whereby the positions of said foot rest arms and said backrest arms changes together, an apron disposed between said foot rest arms and secured to said foot rest arms and to said adjustment bar, and having an outwardly facing planar supporting surface for the legs of an occupant of the chair, a platform rigidly mounted substantially horizontally between said foot rest arms below said apron, said foot rest arms extending upwardly at the outside edge of said platform, and a foot rest pivotally mounted between said upwardly extending foot rest arms.

4. A mechanical chair assembly comprising, a central column adapted for vertical movement to raise and lower a chair, a horizontal chair frame formed of separate bars including longitudinally extending frame bars extending from the front to the back of the chair, laterally extending cross-frame bars disposed beneath said longitudinal bars and secured thereto, and side frame bars longer than said longitudinal bars and having ends projecting beyond the outermost of said cross-frame bars, said side frame bars abutting and secured to the ends of said cross-frame bars and in the same horizontal plane with said crossframe bars, whereby said longitudinal frame bars, said lateral off-frame bars, and said side frame bars form an integral, rigid chair frame.

5. A mechanical chair assembly comprising, a central column adapted for vertical movement to raise and lower a chair, a horizontal chair frame formed of separate bars including a pair of longitudianlly extending frame bars extending from the front to the back of the chair, for laterally extending cross-frame bars disposed in an unequally spaced relationship beneath said pair of longitudinal bars and secured thereto, and a. pair of side frame bars longer than said longitudinal bars and having ends projecting beyond the outermost of said cross-frame bars, said pair of side frame bars abutting and secured to the ends of said cross-frame bars and in the same horizontal plane with said cross-frame bars, said projecting ends of said side frame bars having horizontal pivot pins therethrough, each of said pins having a first threaded diameter extending through an opening at the inner side of each said side frame bar, and having a second larger diameter extending through an opening in the outer side of each of said side frame bars, and an internally threaded nut member for engagement with said first threaded diameter, whereby each of said pivot pins may be securely mounted tosaid side bar upon tightening of said nut member on said first threaded diameter.

6. In a mechanical chair assembly comprising, a central column adapted for vertical movement to raise and lower a chair, a horizontal chair frame formed of separate bars including, laterally extending cr0ss-frame bars, main frame bars extending from the front to the back of the chair and having ends projecting beyond the outermost of said cross-frame bars, and secured to the ends of said cross-frame bars and in the same horizontal plane with said cross frame, bars, said main frame bars having a plurality of brackets extending from the outer surface thereof and parallel to said cross frame bars, said brackets for supporting an arm rest, said projecting ends of said main frame bars each having a pivot bolt therethrough, a pair of foot rest arms pivotally mounted to said pivot bolts at the front of said chair, and having an adjustment arm mounted therebetween slightly below said pivot bolts, a pair of back rest arms pivotally mounted intermediate their ends to said pivot bolts at the rear of said chair, each of said back rest arms having a lower end extending below said pivot bolts, force translating members including a pair of rods disposed beneath said chair frame, a first end of each of said rods pivotally secured to said lower ends of said back rest arms, a second end of each of said rods pivotally secured to said adjustment bar, whereby the positions of said foot rest arms and said back rest arms changes together.

7. In a mechanical chair assembly comprising, a central column adapted for vertical movement to raise and lower a chair, a horizontal chair frame formed of sepa rate bars including, laterally extending cross-frame bars, side frame bars extending from the front to the back of the chair and ba ing ends projecting beyond the outermost of said cross-frame bars, and secured to the ends of said cross-frame bars and in the same horizontal plane with said cross-frame bars, said side frame bars each having an arm rest support extending vertically therefrom, each of said arm rest supports extending vertically therefrom, each of said arm rest supports comprising a pair of members extending vertically from each of said side frame bars and having a horizontal member mounted across the upper ends of said pair of members, and additional longitudinal frame bars disposed parallel to said side frame bars and in the same horizontal plane therewith, the ends of said longitudinal frame bars abutting and secured to said cross-frame bars, whereby said lateral cross-frame bars, said side frame bars, and said additional longitudinal frame bars form an integral, rigid chair frame. v8. A mechanical chair assembly comprising, a vertical center column adapted for vertical movement to raise and lower a chair, a cantilever chair frame supported at its center on said column and including a plurality of hollow tubular frame bars secured to each other for providing a rigid frame for supporting a seat, wooden upholstery side frame members disposed adjacent the side of said frame bars, a strip secured tothe inner surface of each of said side frame members and resting on top of said side frame bars, wooden upholstery end frame members attached to said side frame members, a cushion member resting on said upholstery frame members whereby said strip transfers weight on the seat cushion from said upholstery members to said side frame bars, and finishing upholstery covering and said upholstery frame members and extending below the cantilever frarne. 9. A mechanical chair assembly for a barber chair or the like comprising a vertical center column adapted for vertical movement to raise and lower a chair, a hori- Zontal chair frame supported on said column, the chair frame extending laterally outwardly to the sides and front and rear with the column substantially at the center of the chair frame, including first and second hollow tubular frame members at each side of the frame extending from the rear to the front thereof, and including interconnecting lateral tubular frame members joined to said first and second frame members for providing a rigid frame for supporting a chair seat, means securing said chair frame horizontally at the top of said column, a back rest frame pivotally connected at the rear ends of said first and second frame members, foot rest supporting members pivotally connected at the front ends of said first and second frame members and force translating members interconnecting said back rest frame and said foot rest members for simultaneous pivotal movement of the back rest and foot rest with said back rest and foot rest rigidly and positively spaced by said first and second frame members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 374,628 Pynchon Dec. 13, 1887 467,756 Sandburg Jan. 26, 1892 786,308 Nuss Apr. 4, 1905 2,508,109 Glasco May 16, 1950 2,751,970 Smith June 26, 1956 2,854,061 Romito Sept. 30, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 340,079 Germany Sept. 2, 1921 478,239 Italy Feb. 19, 1953 1,074,345 France Mar. 31, 1954 

1. IN AN ELEVATABLE CHAIR STRUCTURE HAVING A VERTICAL CENTER COLUMN ADAPTED FOR VERTICAL UP AND DOWN MOVEMENT TO RAISE AND LOWER A CHAIR, A HORIZONTAL CHAIR FRAME SUPPORTED ON SAID COLUMN AND INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF HOLLOW TUBULAR FRAME BARS SECURED TO EACH OTHER TO PROVIDE A RIGID FRAME FOR SUPPORTING A SEAT, HORIZONTAL PIVOT PINS SECURED AT THE REAR OF SAID FRAME AND AT THE FRONT OF SAID FRAME, EACH OF SAID PIVOT PINS HAVING A FIRST THREADED DIAMETER EXTENDING THROUGH AN OPENING AT THE INNER SIDE OF SAID SIDE BAR, AND HAVING A SECOND LARGER DIAMETER EXTENDING THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE OUTER SIDE OF SAID SIDE BAR, AN INTERNALLY THREADED NUT MEMBER FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST THREADED DIAMETER, WHEREBY EACH OF SAID PIVOT PINS MAY BE SECURELY MOUNTED TO SAID SIDE BAR UPON TIGHTENING OF SAID NUT ON SAID FIRST THREADED DIAMETER, BACKREST ARMS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE PINS AT THE BACK OF THE FRAME, AND FOOTREST ARMS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE PINS AT THE FRONT OF THE FRAME. 